After a dozen presentations from the audience and a lengthy debate among the school board over developer fees, it fell to Madera Unified superintendent Ed Gonzalez to steer trustees toward the final call on whether or not to lower the developers’ impact fees for the second time in four months.

When board president Michael Salvador finally turned to Gonzalez for a recommendation, the superintendent held nothing back. In an impassioned plea, he asked MUSD trustees Tuesday night to “trust him on this one” and then urged them to lower the developers’ fees on residential housing to $3.88 per square foot.

On a 4-3 vote, the board adopted his recommendation.

In September 2013, the board reduced the fees from $6.04 per sq. ft to $5.88 per sq. ft. On December 17, the board tabled an attempt to lower the fees even further. On Tuesday, the issue moved to center stage...